Why source from Japan
Hakodate Bay produces premium surume-ika at scale; Hakodate-style ika-meshi and squid-ink processing supply chains established.
Key spec
Protein 16-20%; taurine 800-1,200 mg/100g; squid-ink melanin 50-65% (cosmetic black pigment).
Typical end-product
Fresh / dried surume retail, ika-meshi ready-meal export, cosmetic black-pigment ingredient.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 1 supplier
- Typical MOQ
- 100 kg fresh-frozen; 10–50 kg dried (surume); 1–10 kg ink
- Typical lead time
- 4–8 weeks
- Regions of origin
- Hokkaido (Hakodate), Aomori, Iwate, Niigata
- Category
- Food ingredients
- Harvest season
- May – November (peak June – August)
- Japan regulatory status
- Food product; mercury monitoring; cosmetic-grade ink JSCI
- Japanese name
- スルメイカ
- Romaji
- スルメイカ
About this ingredient
Japan's most-fished cephalopod (Todarodes pacificus) — used fresh as sashimi / sushi, dried (surume), as the base of squid-rice (ika-meshi), and as the source of squid ink for pasta / risotto / cosmetic black pigment. Hokkaido (Hakodate), Aomori, and Iwate lead commercial harvest. Substantial export supply for Asian retail and increasingly Western fine-dining. Squid ink (ika-sumi) drives a cosmetic-grade pigment supply chain. Distinct from other seafood entries.
Regulatory status
| Japan | Food product; mercury monitoring; cosmetic-grade ink JSCI |
|---|---|
| EU | Food import; allergen labelling for some markets |
| United States | GRAS; FDA Prior Notice |
| China | GACC food facility registration |
Looking for alternatives?
Common reasons buyers swap to a different ingredient — and what we'd suggest based on this ingredient's profile.
Vegan / plant-based alternatives
Surume Ika (Japanese Flying Squid) is animal-derived. If you need a non-animal source with similar functions, consider:
Sansho Pepper
山椒
Zanthoxylum piperitum source; INCI Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract; MOQ from 1–10 kg (dried peppercorn); 100 g – 5 kg (powder).
Plant-based· shares 2 categories
Wasabi Powder
山葵粉末
Wasabia japonica (Eutrema japonicum) source; INCI Wasabia Japonica Root Powder; MOQ from 1–10 kg (powder); 100 kg+ (bulk paste).
Plant-based· shares 2 categories
Fucoidan
フコイダン
INCI Fucoidan (from various brown seaweeds); MOQ from 1–10 kg.
Plant-based· shares 2 categories
Easier China regulatory path
Surume Ika (Japanese Flying Squid) faces a more restrictive regulatory pathway in China. These alternatives have a simpler status in that market:
Akamoku (Gulfweed Seaweed)
アカモク
Fucoxanthin 0.05-0.3% dry weight; soluble dietary fibre 30-40%; alginate 15-25%.
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
Nigari (Bittern / Magnesium Chloride)
にがり
Magnesium chloride 60–95% (varies by source); pH 6.5–7.5; coagulation rate ideal 0.4–0.7% in soy milk for tofu.
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
Kanten (Agar)
寒天
Gel strength 600–1,000 g/cm² (varies by grade); galactose-rich polysaccharide; ash content <5% for premium grades.
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
When does it make sense to swap an ingredient? Read the swap guide →
Japanese suppliers
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Last updated: 2026-05-05